By Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com
Today, the words "you're fired" have become part of our popular
culture, thanks to Donald Trump and "The Apprentice." And while
contestants on the television show all seem to turn their public
firings into lucrative job offers, the same is not always true
for the rest of the "regular Joes" in corporate America.
If you have been fired, you may be afraid that your past will
come back to haunt you in your next job interview. After all,
you want to impress a potential new employer, and letting them
know about a major failure isn't that impressive. But getting
fired is not automatically a deal breaker. In fact, the book "We
Got Fired...And It's the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Us," (Ballantine
Books, 2004) includes interviews with well-known professionals
who were fired in their past and used those experiences as
catalysts to success.
So just how do you handle questions about your past? Here are a
few strategies to try that might keep you on the "A list" when
the interview is over.
1. Plan ahead to answer the question.
The best thing you can do is arrive at the interview ready to
answer questions about your experience. Prepare in advance by
thinking about your negative work experience. Why were you
fired? What did you learn from the experience? What did you do
right, and what did you do wrong? Try to look at the situation
objectively and from the employer's point of view, as well as
your own. You will get nowhere if you still harbor resentment
about losing the job, and your negative feelings will come
through in the interview.
2. Don't volunteer the information.
Lee E. Miller, president of NegotiationPlus.com, says it is
utterly crucial to tell the truth, but you don't have to draw
attention to this part of your past if you don't need to. "You
have to be honest, but how you choose to phrase it is up to
you," he says. This means that you don't have to state outright
you were fired if the interviewer does not already know. It is
acceptable – and advisable – to package the truth in a way that
is most favorable to you.
For example, you can say you "left the company" or briefly
mention that job and move on to your next position and what you
accomplished there. Perhaps a simple, "It didn't work out and
wasn't the best fit for me or the company," may be sufficient.
Keep in mind, however, that this tactic does not work in all
situations. It works best if the firing was several jobs ago and
you have more relevant job experience to discuss.
3. Explain the situation briefly, then focus on the positive.
If it is apparent that you were fired and you cannot get around
the question, you need to briefly explain the situation and then
move on.
Here is one example: "Our company went through a great deal of
change in the time that I was employed, as did my department.
Unfortunately, my new supervisor was in need of skills I did not
possess at that time."
Once you have explained why you were let go, then it's time to
move to the positive. For example: "Since that time I have
continuously updated my skills to make myself a well-rounded
contributor. I have taken additional computer classes, become
involved with the industry's trade association, and feel that
this job experience made me a better candidate in the long run."
The key here is pointing out what you learned from the
experience, what you did proactively to improve yourself, and
focusing on those positive things in the interview. "You must
deal with the issue in a forward-thinking way," Miller says.
This means learning from the past, but thinking about the
future.
4. Stay positive, no matter what.
You may have been fired from your last job because you had the
boss from hell or because you got stabbed in the back by a
co-worker. Even if you got the short end of the stick, it is
your job in the interview to stay positive and professional.
"Never badmouth a company or prior supervisor," says Miller.
Again, if you are asked about your former boss and have nothing
good to say, bite your tongue for a minute and focus on your
work and what you learned from the situation. Remember, a job
interview is no place to vent about your negative experiences!
